story2

Romulus and Remus
told by Heather Arnott

    "You see Gladys, all most people know about Romulus (if they know anything at all) is that he founded Rome. Well, let me tell you that he is not just some hero who comes along one day to found a great empire. Romulus had a twin brother, Remus, and people seem to conveniently forget what happened to him."

    "What?" asked Gladys.

    "I'm getting there," replied Eileen. "It starts with the story of their mom, Rhea Silvia. She was one of those Vestal Virgins that kept the temples running. Not by choice, mind you. Her father had been a king, but then was thrown out by her uncle. In order that she wouldn't create any heirs to challenge his rule, the uncle forced her to become a Vestal Virgin. But we all know what happens when you try to keep kids from having sex, just look at Edna's son and all his problems."

    "Amen" agreed Gladys.

    "So one night Mars comes into her temple, and what girl can resist a god?"

    "Wasn't Mars the God of War?" asked Gladys.

    "He was. I suppose that should have been enough to warn the girl about the babies, but no. Nine months later, she has a healthy set of twin boys. Of course, the old uncle finds out about the babies. There's no sense in trying to keep babies a secret in a temple full of virgins. He orders them killed but, as seemed to happen all the time in those days, the servant sent to kill them decides to abandon them to their fate instead."

    "But if it was their fate to found Rome, wouldn't the servant merely be complying with the will of the gods rather than acting of his own free will?"

    "Gladys, try to stay on the subject. The servant wraps the little things up in a blanket, puts them in a basket, and sets them floating down the Tiber. Like the baby Moses, except two babies instead of one. Miraculously, the boys drift ashore and come to a stop underneath a fig tree where they are found by a wolf. This she-wolf then nurses the boys until a shepherd comes along, probably to kill the wolf. In any event, Faustulus, the shepherd, and his wife raise the boys into strong young men. But the boys started running with the wrong crowd, and then became natural leaders of the outlaws and shepherds around their homeland. That's when the trouble started. Remus got in a big fight and was captured, so his brother went to try to rescue him."

    "What a good boy, helping his brother."

    "Gladys, don't jump to conclusions, it makes you seem simple."

    "Optimistic."

    "Whatever. At any rate, Romulus showed up to help his brother and people realized that this strapping set of twins of just the right age must be the missing heirs. The twins got support of the people and overthrew their uncle. Then they restored the throne to their grandfather and decided to head off and start their own city. Well, they decide the city should be on Palatine Hill, but that is about as far as they get. The silly boys start arguing over whose omens are better and then Remus makes fun of Romulus' short wall. Remus just jumps right over the wall to show how useless it is. Then what does Romulus do? He kills his brother! But, what can you expect from the child of the God of War that was partially raised by a wolf?"

    "But he still went on to found Rome? I guess that is obvious since it is named after him."

    "Yes, but he ran into another big hurdle before he could get the city settled. It hadn't occurred to Romulus that his city would need women. The people who had followed him to his new city were all outlaws, shepherds, and workers, and male without exception. Now Romulus, rather than sending these men out to court women and bring home wives, he invites all the women of Sabine to a festival. Then they just grabbed all the virgins and carried them away as wives, against their will! That's what happens when the mother isn't there for her children, they grow up to be murderers and rapists. Not that it was the mother's fault in this case. In fact, she was probably burned alive for getting pregnant while serving as a Virgin anyway. This is what happens when you have twins: nothing but heartache for the parents, strife for the kids, and danger for everyone else."

    "Eileen, I hardly think that twins are necessarily murderers and rapists. Didn't that sort of thing happen pretty frequently in ancient Rome? I seriously doubt it had anything to do with their being twins. But if you are still convinced that these are the examples your twin grandbabies will have to look up to, let me tell you some stories that will show the good sides of having a twin."

To Liza and Mawu

To the Hero Twins

To Castor and Pollux

To Hopi Creation

Email Me

Back to My Storybook

Back to Ajaka's Twins

Back to My Intro

Author's Note: Telling this story required combining several versions of the story to make a cohesive story. Eileen and Gladys are still my creation.

Bibliography:

"Seven Kings of Rome - Romulus"
Website: About.com
http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa121002a.htm

"Romulus and Remus"
Website: Cool Mine
http://www.iol.ie/~coolmine/typ/romans/romans9.html

"Romulus and Remus"'
Website: Wolf Country
http://www.wolfcountry.net/information/myth_stories/romulusandremus.shtml

Image Information: (Link inactive as of April 11, 2004)
Bronze Statue of Romulus and Remus Feeding from She-Wolf
Website: Ragged Edge Coins
http://www.raggededgecoins.com